Design For People-Nubes Chen by nubeschen

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE

NUBES CHEN

WHOM DO WE DESIGN FOR?

PROJECT: PICO RIVERA SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES

Each urban project changes the social fabric and economic dynamics of the existing community. Understanding the expectations and concerns of community members from the past, present, and future is essentially important to managing the changes of the community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Impacted by flooding issues, the City of Pico Rivera has to relocate the historic Sports Arena and a new Sports and Entertainment District is planned at an existing industrial center which will completely repurpose the area. The main challenge is to get the support of industrial players and build a new community.

The project aims to design a plan that will smoothly transition the current economy, revive the community memories, and connect Pico Rivera to a broader community.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Adopt a locally sensitive plan

• Encourage collaboration with multiple stakeholders

• Ensure long-term vibrancy

49% of the population in LA County is Hispanic.

ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: The community has an appetite for a new sports arena that is modern but also reflects Pico Rivera’s history and unique identity.

GOAL 1: Amplify the cultural impact of Pico Rivera Sports Arena and build a regional cultural and entertainment hub through unique cultural expression.

GOAL 2: Strengthen community identity and diversify public life through community-led programming.

Data Source: U.S. Census Data 2022

2.PICO RIVERA

WHAT DO HISTORIC PHOTOS TELL US ABOUT PICO RIVERA’S CULTURE?

Data Source: 453 historic photos that the community posted on Facebook

GOAL 3: Transition industrial businesses to creativity-driven economy with collaborative planning and locally sensitive phasing plan.

26% of the memory posts involve playing in the parks and riverbed.

ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: “We want: Street activities and small plazas

Unique/artistic/colorful placemaking

THE COMMUNITY?

WHO IS

1.REGIONAL

COMMUNITY?

3. PROJECT SITE

69% of industrial companies are non-manufacturing.

Spreading Grounds

67% of the employers have no more than 20 employees.

42% of the businesses involve design work.

58% of the businesses are locally based.

100+ 11-50 51-100 1-10 N/A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

COLLABORATIVE PLANNING

Phase I Phase II

Pico Rivera lovers Survey: Love Notes to Pico Rivera!

Pico Rivera community

Public education: “how much do you know about flooding”

Visioning: “How do you want to use the space?”

Phase III

Industrial players

Scope

Roof-sharing Program Parking Lots Activation Program

Programming: Bimonthly event calendar

Mixed-use Industrial Incubation Program

“May I use your roof?”

Strategy

“Let’s create ‘floodscapes’!”

“Don’t worry about logistics. Let’s reuse the train line!”

“Let’s think your business creatively and get people down from the roof!”

“ Also, can we activate your underused parking space?”

“Retire the railway for some mobile fun!”

GROUND-TO-ROOF INTERVENTION

SPACE ACTIVATION

ROOF-TO-GROUND INTERVENTION

Small Medium Large

Medium Large

Small

PLACEMAKING

Medium Large

Small

THE CALL OF RIPPLES

• Cultural identity: the urban design concept is a combination of the cultural symbols like Mariachi plaza and Pico Rivera Memorial Sports Arena, and ripples of river which Pico Rivera has a unique bond with.

• Economic sustainability: the project will keep 65% of the job on site and ensure smooth economic transition by adapting current businesses

Mixed-use Commercial Mixed-use Commercial Sports Arena Commercial Corridor

Key Project Recreational Space LEGEND Green Space PROGRAMMING Jan - Feb Mar - Apr May - Jun

Plant The Seeds Seasonal Garden Mural Art Installment

Artistic Love to Pico Rivera Let’s Get Moving Biking Skating Dancing

Skate Park El Rancho Unified School District San Gabriel River Discovery In The Making Prospering backyards Soledad Enrichment Action Beecrazee Axxion Unisource Solutions Miss Lola Cabinets Counter Tops Pico Rivera Centre for the Arts El Rancho Performing Arts In The Making Self Help Graphics HomeCo Kitchen & Bath Depot Casa Leaders Furniture lucky tree construction inc Cabinets Counter Tops MG Unicorn Inc Unisource Solutions BakeMark Mariscos Bahia J C Trading Inc Hotel Office Building Medium-rise Housing Art Residency Food Market Sports Center Art Hall Community Commercial Furniture Market Mixed-use Indsutrial Community Center Medium-rise Housing Harvest Fest Farmers Market PROGRAMMING CALENDAR Jul - Aug Sept - Oct Nov - Dec City of Stars Camping Movie Fiesta Our Recipes, Our Stories Open Kitchen Open-mic

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE

PROJECT: LA CHINATOWN BROADWAY PLACEKEEPING PROJECT, LOS ANGELES

Every place has its community, and every community has their language. While planning policies define the norms of urban design, communities have different definitions of “clean” and “chaotic”, “safe” and “dangerous”, “historic” and “modern”. Every project requires a unique design dictionary.

PROJECT PROFILE:

Los Angeles’s Chinatown is a home for various ethnic communities, many of whom face the challenges of economic downturn and gentrification. The fragmentation of the communities make collective efforts harder.

The project is aimed to advocate a culturally sensitive development of the historic commercial corridor to augment the character of LA Chinatown, encourage community interaction, and enhance the economic and social sustainability.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Celebrate the shared culture and build solidarity

• Alleviate the tension between preservation and development

• Integrate design solutions with planning policies and social efforts

NOT JUST CHINESE1

Phillipe HingKongChowBenevolentAssociation

LungKongTinYeeAssociation

F.SeeOn LouieFamilyAssociationLim’sFamily GeePoyKuoAssociation

C.Wong

ChewPhoenixBakery Yuen KowKongBenevolentAssociation

L.A.NewChinatownCorpLeeOnDongBenevolentAssociation FongLunAssociation YingOnAssociation

BingKongTongAssociation

HopSingTongBenevolentAssociation QuonBros.GrandStar ChineseConfuciusTempleofLosAngeles GeeTuckSamTuck Association

ChineseChamberofCommerce

SouthernCaliforniaYeeFamilyAssociation

MayflowerSeafoodRestaurant OceanPacific Pho87 LienHoaDeli&SeafoodMarketEasternInternationalBank PhoenixImports BetabelCo.

K.G.LouieCo.

QuanKwongYeeFamily

268FashionInc. SaigonDeli GoldenGiftsTradingCo. TinBo&Co 88Gifts

ChinatownServiceCenter ChineseFriends HongNingCo,Inc LuckyDeli CathayBank Queen’sBakery GoldenDragonRestaurant HongKongBBQ ImportBazaarWonderBakery PhoenixInn FooChow WonKok YangChow

JinHingJeweler

HoiYeungSeafoodCo KBCBakery JEnterprises Rainbow CheamLyHem Cindy’sShop AlterationsAlterationandDryClean BestWay YHYTradincInc. YanLeeFashion Kawaii GoldlandJewelry

SouthernCaliforniaTeoChewAssociationPhoSaigon PCTGinseng&Herbs HongCosmetic101 ManCheongGinseng&HerbsInc JadetimeEGift HopWoo KimHungBakery HongKongImportCo. B&LFashionKimHengJewelry MetroPlazaHotel Fu-ShingFengShui&Gifts

NOT JUST STOREFRONTS2

In 1960s, Mai and her family escape from China to Vietnam

In 1978, Mai and her family got on a refuge boat to escape the political persecution.

THE PEOPLE AND

STORY

1870 1930 1960 1980 1990 2000 THEY SETTLE DOWN HERE... AT BROADWAY Food Shop Services East Asian 13% Southeast Asian 20% Chinese 60% Vendor 70% Stores 30%

Mai Tu is a 34-year-long local jeweler in Chinatown.

Data Source: 1.Census Bureau 2020; 2&3.Chinatown Community for Equitable Development; 3&4. Community groundtruthing

AND BROADWAY

HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY PERCEIVE THE SPACE?3

“Beloved”

“Touristy”

“Unnoticed”

“Unwelcome”

Parking

Vacant Buildings

Unbuilt Lots

The boat capsized but Mai got rescued and shipped to Norway and her parents to Malaysia.

“I like them. I usually go there for...”

“They are for the community!”

“They are nice but a little bit touristy.”

“They seem popular...”

“I don’t know them.”

“I think they are not open to the public.”

“They are gentrifiers with fake Asian facade.”

“I don’t feel welcomed there.”

“Who use these parking lots? ”

“Why do we need so much parking?”

“It used to be a grocery store.”

“Can the City move us there if we get evicted?”

“Why can’t they develop these lots first?”

“It’s not safe there.”

HOW ACTIVE ARE THESE SPACES OVER A DAY?4

Active Inactive

In 1983, they reunioned in LA Chinatown and Mai started her own jewelry business in 1990

In 2020, Mai got evicted to Dynasty Center. Since then Mai becomes an community activist and contually fights against gentrification in Chinatown

RESILIENCE

10 AM 1PM 4PM 6PM 9PM

GO “STREET-STROLLING”

ALLEY MAKING DEVELOPMENT

Alley is an important part of Asian culture. Traditionally, shopping in Asia always happens on streets and alleys. Even to today, Chinese people still call shopping as “street-strolling” Preserving and creating more alleys is the key to an experience-based development that offers a unique and authentic Chinatown vibe. There are a lot of potential alleys along Broadway. Therefore, the plan focuses on the “street-strolling” experience and suggests connecting the main street and cross streets with indoor and outdoor alleys. Preservation and new development should be based on the street and alley network to support a well-connected street life.

ALLEY MAKING STRATEGY

MAIN STREET CROSS STREETS

百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯新鮮水果限時促銷限時促銷新鮮水果揚州飯店

揚州飯店

CHOW 揚州飯店

CHOW 揚州飯店 YANG CHOW 揚州飯店 YANG CHOW 揚州飯店

揚州飯店 YANG CHOW 揚州飯店 YANG CHOW 揚州飯店

YANG CHOW

YANG

YANG CHOW

STREETS

Main Street

Cross Street Alley

Open Space

Cultural Preservation Zone

Existing Building

Proposed development

揚州飯店 YANG CHOW

YANG CHOW 揚州飯店 YANG CHOW

MAIN STREET

CROSS STREETS

ALLEYS

永富恆參茸藥材行 Young Fu Heng Herb Co.

揚州飯店 YANG CHOW

百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯百老匯

CHINATOWNLAND 揚州飯店

PLANNING TOOL: CULTURAL DISTRICT

BEFORE AFTER

FROM DAILY TO CEREMONIAL

STREET ACTIVATION

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-SMALL

BEFORE AFTER PLANNING TOOL: CULTURAL DISTRICT

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-MEDIUM

SOCIAL TOOL: BUSINESS COOPERATIVE

BEFORE AFTER

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-LARGE

SOCIAL TOOL: COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

BEFORE AFTER

HOW TO WORK TOGETHER

PROJECT: ELYRIA CANYON PARK COMMUNITY CO-DESIGN PROJECT, LOS ANGELES

The community always has the most knowledge of the site and often time knows the best what is needed in a project. Therefore, the best way of design is working with the experts.

PROJECT PROFILE:

Elyria Canyon is a hidden park surrounded by neighborhoods of various income levels and ethnic backgrounds. Community Nature Connection (CNC), a local organization operates the park and strives to increase public access to the park by working with the underserved communities.

The project aims to work with the community to identify the main focus of the operation of the park, design the park, and develop CNC volunteers’ capacity of collaborative design and community engagement.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Mutual learning between project team and the community

• Creative engagement and collaborative design methods

• Serve the long-term operation goal of CNC

C A 2 E ys ia n P a rk Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Microsoft, Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates, Esri Community Maps contributors, Map layer by Esri CYPRESSPARK WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SITE? NO BUS SERVICES IN ONE MILE UNFRIENDLY ENTRY POINTS SEASONAL BIOSWALE SOCIAL SEGREGATION COGNITIVE MAP ASSOCIATION WITH THE PARK DESIGNERS THE COMMUNITY V.S. LET’S DESIGN Safe Cool Favorite Least favorite Hot Dangerous Entrance Parking Blocked entrance Closed entrance P WORKSHOP 1 PRIORITIES Know About Design Gathering Space Native Garden Installment Map Your Senses What Do You Want

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THE SITE?

WOOD AMPHITHEATER

STONE AMPHITHEATER

SEMI-ENCLOSED GARDEN NATURAL GARDEN

FEATURE

WOOD FEATURE WATER

DESIGN

2 PRIORITIES Accessible Natural Playful Welcome to Design Buffet Sorry, Budget Cut How to Maintain

DESIGNERS THE COMMUNITY V.S.

TOGETHER WORKSHOP

SITE DESIGN

PARK DESIGN

LEGEND

THE RED BARN

DESIGN LIBRARY

Minor entrance Minor

Low-difficulty trail

Medium-difficulty trail

E E E E E E P P P 150ft 450ft 300ft E E P

Main entrances

entrance

Signage Recycling

Signage

Parking

Recycling Restroom Restroom Mini fountain Water feature Sitting Sitting Recreational Swing

High-difficulty trail

PLANTING LIST

California Poppy California Fuchsia California Lilac Black Walnut Tree Bush Monkey Flower Common Yarrow

THE RED

BARN

WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY

PROJECT: THE EDGY QUARTER IN LITTLE TOKYO, LOS ANGELES

Places have their own personalities and attract their own audience. Sometimes the best way to revitalize a place is to discover and augment its character. Even features commonly assumed undesirable have their value, attractiveness, and power.

PROJECT PROFILE:

The project is located at the edge of the historic Little Tokyo, neighboring Old Chinatown, Art District, and Boyle Heights. While the site has long born a negative tag of darkness, it has also offered a shelter for people who dance in the dark.

Darkness and light, they always coexist. The project is intended to create a secret celebration venue for people who see the shadow in the light and who chase light in the darkness.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Maintain the duality of day and night, “good” and “evil”

• Encourage the fusion of immigration roots and progressive culture

20’ 20’ 54’ 30’ 84’ 60’ 68’ 1 2 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 8 9 5 5 10 10 5 5 6 7 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 9 8 10 5 7 6 4 3 2 1 Church Museum/Gallery The edgy quarter Housing Office School Community shopping mall Fire station Bus station Arts residency 11 Arts hall 12 12 Pedestrian bridge Healthcare commercial Section cut line Detailed area Daytime traffic Nighttime traffic Boulevard (90’) Two way street (60’) Vehicle alley (20’) Pedestrian walkway (10-20’) 6 11 13 13 S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 S2 S2 S2 S2 S2 S3 S2 S2 S1 S2 S3 S4 S3 S3 S3 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S2 200ft 400ft 600ft

SECTION

SITE PLAN

THE EDGY QUARTER FOR THE NIGHT-BLOOMING FLOWERS

90’ 160’ 60’ 30’ 15’

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

PROJECT 1: YUZI PARK, GUILIN, CHINA

PROJECT 2: CULTURAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE DISTRICT, BEIJING, CHINA

How can the project contribute to employment? How profitable the project is? How can the project be implemented and operated in the long run? Ultimately, we need to think about it practically.

PROJECT 1 PROFILE:

Yuzi Park is an undeveloped natural resort. After years’ of investment into local art with little return, the client needed to capitalize the natural and art resources and resume the tourism of Guilin city. The project aims to propose a plan that makes the site marketable and a new cultural landmark of Guilin.

PROJECT 2 PROFILE:

Golden Triangle District is the cultural center of Beijing. The substantially high density of historic resources and outdated amenities make the area lag behind in economic vibrancy. The project aims to transform the cultural advantage of the area into economic value. The strategy is to deeply work with multiple stakeholders and create economic opportunities by innovating planning tools and operation models while maintaining the historic essence.

YUZI PARK

Guilin

Liuzhou

Nanning

Foshan

Dongguan

Changsha

Chengdu

Guangzhou Shenzhen

Zhongshan Beijing Shanghai

Tianjin

Chongqing

Wuhan

Nanjing

Suzhou

Hangzhou Ningbo

Market Size 3M 4M 2M 1M Market Accessibility High Low

Provincial Market Top-tier Market New Top-tier Market 11% 29% 34% 26%

One-day Trip ~25% Market Sizing &

~45% ~10% ~20% Short Stay of 2 to 3 days Long Stay of 3-5 days Holiday Residence 11% 36% 21% 32% 6% 36% 32% 26% Tickets Revenues Revenues Estimation: Hotel & Residence Revenues Estimation: Customer Estimation: 2025: 300M RMB/Year 2030: 1B RMB/Year 2035: 1.4B RMB/Year Accomodation Revenues Commercial Revenues Recreational Revenues 2035 2030 2025 Phase 485596 435956 145635 A. Hotel Customers 676453 563711 73476 B. Holiday Residents 1,162,049 999,667 219111 Overnight Customers 837,951 500333 380111 One- day Trip Customers 2035 2030 2025 Accommodation Projects Revenues Sales Price Revenues Sales Price Revenues Sales Price Units Project 35773650 19710 3630 30714750 18615 3300 26,280,000 17520 3000 30 Hot Spring Hotel 107320950 147825 1452 91060200 137970 1320 76,869,000 128115 1200 270 Holiday Hotel 13875840 17520 1584 11037600 15330 1440 30 Bugua House 19272000 29200 1320 15330000 25550 1200 50 Campsite 412,386,110 485596 339,616,331 435956 103,149,000 145635 900 Total

Segmentation:

The Land-Campsite

The Forest-Treehouse

The Starry Night-Theater

The Universe-VR Art Show

SPRING VILLAGE STAR VILLAGE SUNLIGHT VILLAGE Hotel Accommodation Health Preservation Recreational Holiday Residence Art Creation FOREST VILLAGE MAIN ENTRANCE STONE VILLAGE THE ARTSY PLAZA MOONLIGHT TOWN SIDE ENTRANCE 2000ft 4000ft 6000ft 14.

15.

Park

10.

11.

12.

13.

16.

17.

18.

11 6 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 18 17 Function Planning: Key Projects:

Family

three

The

Couple Backpacker Nuclear family

Rock Resort Zen Retreat Art Studio Convention Center Moonhill Art Center Moonshadow Lake Moon Life Center

Plan

Hot Spring Village Art Cave

Daydream Fairyland Hidden Tribe Diet Therapy Center Senior Center Native Garden

Tour Design by Tourist Type:

generations

elderly

GOLDEN TRIANGLE DISTRICT

FOUR INITIATIVES

Memory Museum

Collect historic stories and community memories of the area, create public art and community exhibitions, and post stories online.

Economic Revitalization

Develop theater, art trade, and publishing industries. Support the commercialization of art and complete the ecosystem.

Historic Community

Activate community life and enhance “Hutong” experience by creating unique cultural space and supporting traditional artists.

Cultural Consumption

Promote cultural consumption through infusing cultural scenes, co-branding with historic landmarks, and membership program.

Cultural innovation center

Central Axis of Beijing

Cultural Core

Creative Activities The Forbidden City Historic Community Cultural Tour Public Affairs Art Center Theater District Cultural Consumption International Communication Center Cultural Business Incubation Cultural consumption center 5 5 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 500ft 1000ft 1500ft

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS

Working with the city, the project designed several public-private collaboration model, selected suitable partners, and pushed forward the implementation of several exemplary projects.

Concerts in Historic Buildings - “The Echo of History”

Zhizhu Temple is selected as the site for concerts of traditional and fusion music. The concert has now become a iconic cultural experience in Beijing and is held regularly.

Theater Incubation Center- “The Theater Factory”

Nanyang-Gongxiangji is a mixed-use theater incubation center that include a historic theater, studio space, hotel and cultural retails. Renovated and managed by a progressive developer, the project is a now an incubator for innovative plays that inherit and expand the traditional genre.

Community Cultural Center- “The Flow of Hutong Life”

Mei Hou Si Shi is a community center owned by the city and managed by a culture operator. The project innovated a public-private partnership in public space management. The center connects traditional artists and the community and has developed many self-organized art clubs.